Not that many Canadians on Summitpost. Try Clubtred for more feedback from Edmonton, Calgary or Vancouver people.That said - the Yamnuska course is the long running standard for the area although if you want a more personal touch or smaller group I am sure that mountainascents will provide a good into course.

Thanks for the reply; shame there isn't many of us Canucks here on Summitpost. Thank you for point me in the direction of Clubtred, I appreciate it, and thank you for your opinion regarding the courses..

Yamnuska.com is the school that Dow touted. I called them and left a message with a "desk person", the guy said they were all out climbing and they would call at the end of the day. I requested a 2 day rock course. They didn't call back.

Yamnuska has good guides and runs good courses but it is a larger outfit so not suprised they may have support staff problems. I took 4 or 5 courses from Yamnuska guides 30 years ago as they do the courses for the Alpine Club of Canada(ACC) and I know dozens of people who have taken courses from them.

Marmaduke - disapointing experience - did you find another guide/course?

My lifelong friend flew out 2 days before me, so that was the reason for the 2 day course, I was on my own. They didn't call back and it was the very next day I wanted to take the course, so my timing was a bit poor. I didn't make any other calls, I just hung out in Canmore and then went home a day early.